Husband with arthritis

[booksandchoc]

Hi all, hoping to get some advice.

DH was diagnosed with arthritis in June 2008, consultant is not sure if it is rheumatoid or another type which I can't remember the name of. He had a hip replacement in jan 2010. It only really affects his right hip (where he had the replacement) his right knee and his elbows. He is only 27.

His knee is extremely swollen, and has been for a long time. Getting the fluid removed really hurts him and he doesn't like getting the steroid injections because of the possible side effects. 6 months ago he asked for an X-ray on his knee but was told that it wasn't bad enough (his knee is double the size of the other one and you can see all the fluid swelling his thigh up, he says it feel like his knee is going to explode all the time because of the pressure). Does anyone know what possible treatments they could do on his knee? He works in retail at the moment so constantly on his feet, it isnt the best job but he doesn't have any qualifications and his only other experience is as a labourer which is out of the question. Is there any benefits he can receive? He got DLA up until his hip replacement. He is on methotrexate at the moment. Sorry for the long rambling post, I'm on my phone.

Bump

Hi op I have ra too diagnosed in 1984. The swelling is common and unfortunately can only be relieved by draining if it's got that bad. But he could try to relieve it by alternating ice and heat,ask doctor for anti inflammatory meds and rest. Is he moving and exercising?

What would the anti inflammatory med be? He already takes methotrexate, he dis up the dose but it affected his liver function so had to drop it down again. He was on sulfasalasine (sp?) but that didn't make any difference. He works 30 hours a week on his feet, coaches boxing and also works out. This all makes his arthritis worse but he doesn't want to give it up, he already had to give up being a boxer and has cut back a lot on his work outs.

Poor man it sounds grim. I have rheumatoid arthritis and can empathise!

Right firstly his knee: the swelling may not just be fluid in the joint it is probably also inflammation in the actual joint or around it. In either case a direct steroid injection into the knee joint will probably help him after draining the knee. If he agrees to a steroid injection and it works the relief will be immense for him (I have had several and only one did not work). I agree the knee draining and injections really hurt and I dreaded them beforehand.

Anti-inflammatory - usually something Naproxen/diclofenac-there are quite a few and work by reducing the levels of inflammation. Has the dr not prescribed any for him? What about pain relief?

And yes as Mordecai says - rest. Hard I know when you have to work.

I don't know about benefits but someone else may do so.

He finds the steroid injections don't actually give him that much relief and believes the side-effects ie heart problems outweigh the benefits. Because he is on methotrexate and that comes will a lot of possible side-effects he also doesn't want to add to that. (he is very very stubborn) Draining the fluid does give him relief but only for a few days/week max.

Im going to his rheumatologist with next week so I will mention naproxen/diflofenac. He doesn't take any painkillers etc unless it is really bad, he gets prescribed co-codamol which he took all the time when his hip really bad. He said he doesn't get much pain from his knee, it's more of a discomfort from the pressure.

Thank you guys for taking the time to reply. I'm just really worried that it's eventually going to take a toll on his mental health, he has already had to give up things he loves, and has walls put up on things he wants to do. It's not fair.

Hi Books. I have ra too. I take diclofenac & cocodamol every single day, however I'm feeling.

I find it helps if you can prevent the pain & swelling rather than trying to get rid of it once it starts. I also have a steroid injection pretty quickly at the first sign of a flare up.

If he wants to carry on being as active as he is he will probably need to do someting like this, but also I accept that every now & then I have to just stop & rest

Its life changing, but can be manged with pro active pain relief I find. Also, when you see the consultant ask about a different combi of dmards etc as these are the drugs that can mange the disease in the long run. I'm on methotrexate & sulfasalazene atm and these are working for me - ish! We're all different though and its a case of finding what suits your dh best.